Search

Each day, I read claims in the media and social media that terrorism in Egypt is a) being exaggerated by the Egyptian ‘deep state’ or its supporters or b) that Egyptian militants in the Sinai, demonstrators on the mainland guilty of violence, or that saboteurs (planting bombs) are being unfairly pursued or charged because they are simply supporters of the ‘peaceful’ Muslim Brotherhood. Waves of violence began in August of 2013 and have not ceased, although the army and security forces are making inroads in the Sinai and are able to successfully defuse many of the bombs and devices planted in other parts of Egypt. It is essential to understand that this violence is not a random outreach effort of ISIS – it is a deliberate strategy by Ansar Morsi, whether these are members of radical organizations like the State of Sinai/Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, or disgruntled supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan) and its now illegal political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party. The Ikhwan have branches in 68 countries, their secret internal structure has survived numerous Egyptian governments, and their alliance with militants who are far less “moderate” should not surprise anyone familiar with the organization and its ultimate goals.

Also those who have studied the acts of terrorism (otherwise portrayed as political resistance) in Iraq will note similarities between the AQ organizations which developed there, the larger political struggle and the specific techniques of the Sinai-based groups.

or other US institutes which have rather consistently called for the inclusion of the Muslim Brotherhood) that the Sinai campaign has ‘failed’ – is shortsighted. Such analysis also fails to perceive the connections between the Sinai violence – aimed to bring down the government or show its inefficacy and the other incidents of violence in Egypt connected to political opposition.

I am not writing this to support violations of anyone’s civil rights. The use of torture and violence in apprehension of suspects is anathema and counterproductive. The protest law in Egypt is another subject. Peaceful protest should be permitted, but there can be no reason to support violent actions in such protests. Above all it is important to see the volatility of the situation over last year and that the campaign against terrorism in the Sinai and outside it is necessary.

Many assert that military responses to counterterrorism will fail. In history, they have both failed and succeeded. But they cannot achieve aims against terrorists without a full-out commitment as in all forms of warfare. The Sinai cannot be abandoned or permitted to be a training ground for terrorists who will soon operate elsewhere. Those who objected to the razing of a buffer area in Rafah, should note the vast number of tunnels discovered there and multiple operations by terrorists there. Objections that Egypt “owes” Hamas the weapons or supplies that could be funneled to it fly in the face of current political realities, not least, Hamas’ relationship with Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood. Further, the government of Mohamed Morsi tried a ‘soft approach’ in the Sinai which resulted in attacks on Egypt’s military and the growth of the currently active groups. In fact, the presence of radical Islamists dates back to the Mubarak era, when attacks were launched against tourists and resulted in a severe crackdown on those locals thought to be accessories or hosts to these groups. Even at that time, the origins of these al-Qa’ida-linked groups and their weapons was a matter of dispute. Yes, the development of the Sinai is an essential aspect of countering terrorism there, and Egypt’s president recently committed funds to that purpose. Yes, the bedouin have been discriminated against and tribal loyalties have been manipulated by foes of the state. But the sheer number of incidents shows that the ‘developmental approach’ proposed (but never enacted) by Morsi’s government failed and that the current hostilities are linked, at least in part, to his supporters.

Here is a LOG of Related Incidents

It is not a complete list; has more incidents logged than the Atlantic Council’s Egypt Source (which is politically critical of Egypt but also relies on open sources).

Jan 27 Four men were carrying a bomb in Alexandria when it detonated. One was killed & 2 severely injured. Also sound bombs went off Monday (1/26) night and a tramway carriage was burned in clashes between protesters and police. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/121429.aspx

Jan 26 6 explosive devices found and dismantled near Church of Virgin Mary in Fayyoum.

Jan 25, IkhwanWeb, the Muslim Brotherhood’s English language site, normally more understated than its Arabic site, issued a call to avenge every drop of blood in its AntiCoup efforts: http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=31981

Jan 25 Bomb at Cairo-Alex railway track & also bomb near Shams club in Alf Maskan, two officers injured.

Report and photos of alleged IS militants (ABM affiliated with ISIS) giving money to someone whose home was destroyed in the Sinai. #IS in #Sinai#Egypt distributing financial help to inhabitant for their “destroyed home”. There is money round now.

Jan 9 Christian families in the #Sinai dwindle from 650 to 200 because of attacks by Islamic terrorists. fikraforum.org/?p=6205&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=*Mideast%20Brief&utm_campaign=2014_The%20Middle%20East%20Daily_1.9.15

Dec. 4 Egypt will try those responsible for killing Shiites in Egypt on June 23rd 2013 in a mob attack in Abu Mussalam. Some have blamed salafi anti-Shi`I propaganda for that attack which took place under Pres. Morsi’s rule

Zeinobia (summary) Some of the media stated those protesting were Islamists or anti-coup, however some are 6th of April youth, Strong Egypt and the Constitution party. (Reminder: the Muslim Brotherhood politicians had, during its tenure, rejected the trials of killings of the revolutionaries and only now calls for trials of Mubarak and Sisi).

Nov. 23 Min. of Interior announces that a body found at a bombing site in al Wasta in Beni Suwayf (the bomb went off Saturday night) was that of a Muslim Brotherhood member, Mohamed Abdul Moneim http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/116269.aspx

Nov. 12 Protests in Giza and clashes w. police. Atlantic Council’s Egypt blog reports this as “police invaded the village of Nahya” where Islamists were protesting. An April 6 youth member was shot. (showing alliance of Apr. 6 youth and Islamist protesters) https://www.facebook.com/shabab6april/posts/10153309392978294

Nov. 11 Min. of Interior says it will block protests planned by the Salafist Front on November 28 english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/115274/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-warns-Salafists-over-planned-protests.aspx

Nov. 4 Tribal (bedouin) leaders ask Egypt’s government (visiting as a commission) for a new city for the displaced, a raise in compensation for the evacuation, ambulances and more http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/114748.aspx

Nov. 4 Bedouin group called Sons of Sinai declares war on Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis

Oct. 22 Twenty-five members of the so-called Nasr City cell – members of the Gama’at Jihadiyya were sentenced, 12 of them receiving life in prison for planning terror attacks after the ’11 revolution. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/113682.aspx

Sept. 29 The Church takes an allegedly kidnapped Coptic woman (Samalot) to a monastery until things calm down (in the wake of Min. of Interior claiming she converted & she had called him a liar ) http://www.elwatannews.com/news/details/568172

Sept 21 5 (although report says 4) simultaneous sound bombs went off in Tanta and Mahalla. Ajnad Masr claimed responsibility for a bomb which exploded in front of the Foreign Ministry in Cairo killing 2 police. One of them was a witness in the trial against Morsi. 4 schools were evacuated near by. Also a military aircraft crashed in Fayyoum killing 6 soldiers. Also a bomb defused at the electricity tower in al-Ayyat Giza.

Aug 17 Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim held a meeting with his assistants to discuss the video released on YouTube by a group which called itself Brigades of Helwan. A security source said Saturday that the video was broadcasted from Arab Ghoneim district in Helwan and 10 suspects were arrested. (al-Shorouk)

May n.d. 2014 Erick Stakelback explains why the Muslim Brotherhood are perceived as being moderates – their charming veneer, but share goals with other extremists. For ex. Morsi joined the MB when at USC in Los Angeles. And info. re. US groups with them. Granted this is a rather right wing presentation & audience.

Apr 30 Junior policemen on strike at the Cairo airport express anger at arrival of special operations and tanks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQYg47sRcCw The protest law was applied to the 120 police, they were fired and 6 others arrested.

Apr. 14 Army troops supported police across fr. #Nahda in clashes with #Ikhwan today near and inside Cairo University, where a student in the Faculty of Science called Mohamed Adel Attia is reported dead i

Apr. 14 Khaled Hussein, reporter 4 t/daily Youm 7, was shot in the chest during the clashes in front of the university’s main gates.

Apr. 5 Violence broke out in Aswan at a reconcillation meeting on Friday between two families and continued through Saturday. The army spokesperson said there was Ikhwan influence in the clash, but haven’t seen details which prove that, yet. 23 killed, 40 wounded.

Mar 27 Egyptians and Ikhwan clashed in Dakahliyya and police and Ikhwan clashed in Faisal st. al-Haram, Giza. Shots were fired in clashes between Ikhwan and police in Mahalla. Ikhwan demonstrations in Qena and three demonstrations in Fayoum were dispersed by police by using tear gas; they also dispersed demonstrators in Madinat Nasr with tear gas.

Mar. 13 Gunmen attacked an army bus in al-Amiriyyeh in eastern Cairo, killing a soldier. These are believed to be Ikhwan cells, or at least, its supporters. Ansar Beit al-Maqdis later claimed responsibility. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26559184

Feb. 21 Beni Swaif, police aborted an attempt by 2 MB terrorist organization members to set fire to a police officer private car. He was injured & hospitalized. MB member Ahmed Ihab was arrested and the other member Belal Nehad Akasem, son of the leading MB member Nehad Alkasem in Beni Swaif. (source Min. of the Interror)

Jan 25: Five soldiers – the crew of a military helicopter – are killed after their craft is hit by a surface-to-air missile in Sinai. The attack was claimed by Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis.

Jan 24: Four separate bomb attacks hit Greater Cairo on the eve of the 25 January 2011 revolution’s third anniversary, killing six people and injuring dozens. The bombs target Cairo’s central police headquarters, a police unit stationed near a metro station in Giza’s Dokki district, a police station in Giza’s Al-Talbiya district and another near a government building in Giza’s Haram district.

The Museum of Islamic Art, across the street from the central police headquarters, suffers extensive damage as a result of the explosion. The other two bombs were smaller in magnitude

Jan. 23 Five Egyptian policemen are killed and another two wounded in a drive-by shooting on a checkpoint in Beni Suef governorate, around 200 km south of Cairo. Later in February, the interior ministry directly accuses Muslim Brotherhood militants for the shooting, the first time it has levelled blame at the Islamic group for an attack since Morsi’s ouster.

May 16, 2013: Seven police and army personnel are kidnapped by unknown militants near north Sinai’s Al-Arish city. The conscripts are released the following week, after which the army announced that the release was a result of negotiation with the kidnappers and efforts of military intelligence as well as mediation by tribal sheikhs and Sinai locals.

While news of arrests and a military campaign against militants was reported after Morsi called for their arrest, no trial was reported thereafter.

July 5: Two days after the ouster of Morsi, five army and police officers are gunned down by Islamists in Al-Arish, a city which had become a hotbed for militant activity since 2011, with weekly attacks on police and army facilities and government buildings that, mostly, failed to leave casualties.

July 24: In an incident representing a shift in the methods of attack as well as location, a bomb is detonated at the Daqahliya governorate’s security directorate in the Delta city of Mansoura, killing a police conscript and injuring over 25 people. Previous attacks since February 2011 had mostly involved the use of firearms and to a lesser extent rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and grenades.

The interior ministry blamed Islamist extremists; the final results of police and prosecutor’s investigations were not announced.

August 14: After police forces disperse the main pro-Morsi encampments in Cairo and leave hundreds of dead protesters in their wake, armed Islamists launch RPGs at the town of Kerdasa’s police station in Giza, as a mob killed at least 11 officers, mutilated some and then reportedly securing control of the town.

Police returned to Kerdasa in September to arrest suspects involved in the attack and cleared it of armed militants.

August 19: The bloodiest militant attack so far happens when two vehicles transporting police conscripts near Sinai’s Rafah – on their way home for a holiday, according to police statements – were attacked by militants using RPGs. Twenty-five of the conscripts are killed in the attack. The prime suspect, whom security sources said was a jihadist militant called Adel-Habbara, is arrested later in August and is now being tried in criminal court.

September 5: A failed assassination attempt on Egypt’s Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim takes place in Cairo. A suicide bomber detonates a car bomb close to Ibrahim’s security convoy, as seen in the video of the group claiming the attack, Sinai-based jihadists Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis.

September 11: A car bomb explodes at the military intelligence building in the Sinai city of Rafah near the Gaza border, killing six soldiers and injuring 17 soldiers and civilians. Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis claims the attack.

October 7: Nine police and army officers and conscripts are killed in two attacks: a drive-by shooting on a military patrol near Ismailia, where an army officer and six conscripts are killed, and a bombing at the security directorate in Sinai’s Al-Tor city which leaves three police officers dead.

Later that evening, an RPG is fired at a satellite link in Cairo’s upscale southern district of Maadi, causing little damage. The attack is claimed by another militant group active in Sinai called Kataeb Al-Forqan.

November 17: National security officer Mohamed Mabrouk – involved in investigations of the Muslim Brotherhood and jihadist groups – is assassinated by gunmen near his home in eastern Cairo. Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis claims the killing a few days later.

November 20: A car bomb is detonated on the Arish-Rafah highway in North Sinai, killing 11 army conscripts and injuring 17 others. The attack is claimed by Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, who later release a video recording of it.

December 24: A large explosion, apparently a car bomb and possibly more than one, detonates at the Daqahliya governorate’s security directorate in the Nile Delta city of Mansoura, killing 15 and injuring over 130 policemen and civilians. Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis claims the attack and several militant suspects are rounded up and questioned by police, who release videos of testimonies from primary suspects.